Due to the ongoing stay-at-home order because of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Whitehall supervisors met May 11 virtually via Webex to discuss township business.

The township yard waste center reopened May 5 with new rules and regulations due to the pandemic.

Secretary Brenda Norder said residents are required to obtain a permit card before using the center.

Additional information, details and guidelines are available at northwhitehall.org/forms/YARD_WASTE.

Under new business, a request by the Ridings at Parkland subdivision to close Schneck Road between Spruce Street and Hickory Road was also approved.

Developer Mike Tuskes said the closure was for the installation of sewer systems and a water line extension.

He noted the Parkland School Board - which had initial concerns about closing Schneck Road due to school being in session before the state closure order - had given approval of the request, adding the road is expected to be open in time for a possible school year reopening in August.

Furthermore, supervisors approved a time extension request from 5077 Overlook Road LLC, which is developing an active adult residential community on the site of the former Strawberry Acres Orchard, for the developer’s conditional use until Sept. 30 to allow board and planning commission members to review the application.

Board members awarded four bids for crack seal, bituminous seal coat, high-performance chip seal and ultrathin bonded wearing course - for $57,250, $437,409.84, $128,353.45, and $209,631.72, respectively, to Asphalt Maintenance Solutions for sealing township roads.

In other business, a request by Lehigh Carbon Community College for the use of the township’s fire police at the school’s Oct. 24 5K walk, run and Zumba event was also approved.

During the township manager’s report, Christopher Garges thanked Upper Macungie for lending a portable message board to aid in traffic flow to the yard waste center, and proposed a motion for mutual cooperation and public works assistance - in the form of vehicles, material, manpower and services - with South Whitehall, Upper Macungie and Lower Macungie townships, which the board accepted.

Garges also said a bid has been awarded for construction at Kolapechka Park and construction of a parking lot had begun.

He reported dog park and playground equipment has been ordered and will be delivered shortly.

He also said the Upper Lehigh Lions Club had sent a $500 donation for purchase of handicapped-accessible playground equipment for the park. The board agreed to send a letter of thanks to the club for their donation.

Additionally, Garges said the township had received an anonymous donation of $300 in gift cards with a note offering them to help community members and said four residents had been identified to each receive a $75 gift card to Weis Markets.

Norder also announced that the township had received a generous donation of hand sanitizer from Whitehall Pharmacy, and that a thank-you letter would be sent in return.

Moving on, Garges said the township Senior Day, which typically takes place in mid-to-late September, would likely not happen in its usual format due to the coronavirus.

“At this point where we stand, bringing 300, 60-plus-year-old residents together, we’re struggling to see that happening at that point,” he said.

Garges proposed soliciting the event’s sponsors to conduct a gift bag delivery to seniors.

Supervisors said they would discuss the matter further, and said the proposal sounded like a good solution to celebrate the occasion.

The next board of supervisors meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. June 1.